L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

The L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center's services include: health and mental health care; HIV/AIDS and STD testing and treatment; legal aid; support groups and programs for youth, seniors and families.

How do you help people in my community?

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has its headquarters in Hollywood and has four additional locations, including an HIV and STD counseling and testing site located in West Hollywood.  The Village at Ed Gould Plaza is the Center's one-of-a-kind educational, cultural and social facility.  It's home to the Center's Learning Curve, an adult-education and enrichment program, and David Bohnett Cyber Center.  At the Village, you'll find the highest quality theater, music and comedy as well as exhibits from emerging and well-known artists.  Proceeds from all ticket sales and art purchases benefit the Center's programs and services.

The Center's Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic offers a wide array of state-of-the-art HIV/AIDS medical care, prevention and support services and is home to one of the country's largest anonymous HIV testing sites. 

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is also one of the nation's leading organizations addressing issues facing homeless GLBT youth.  The Jeff Griffith Youth Center on Santa Monica Boulevard and the Kruks/Tilsner Transitional Living Program, a 24-bed residence for homeless GLBT youth, are designed to help young people make a successful transition from street life to independent living.

For GLBT parents and their families, the Center's Family Services Program offers a large number of programs and activities, including parenting workshops, family-oriented films and social events, adoption information and more. 

Our legal services include free or low-cost legal advice through our Legal Clinic, the Immigration Law Project, and a project that prepares basic legal documents.  The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Anti-Violence Project provides the most comprehensive victim services program in Southern California, and our Vote For Equality Project recruits, trains and mobilizes volunteer activists to build volunteer support for GLBT rights.

Why do you need my support?

Since 1971, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been fighting for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people around the country and has been providing essential services and programs to build the health, strength and well-being of our community.  Much of the Center's funding comes from government grants that include restrictions regarding how the funds can be used.  We are dependent on private dollars, from supporters like you, to fund our groundbreaking advocacy work and to enable us to develop and provide cutting edge services which the government doesn't fund.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Because a significant amount of the Center's funding comes from government sources, many of our programs are required to adhere to strict reporting requirements.  All aspects of the Center's programs are under constant review.  As a non-profit organization with an IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exemption, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center operates within full compliance of federal, state, county, and local requirements regarding non-profits.  In addition to operating under board-approved by-laws, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has an annual certified audit and files federal tax filings as required.

Can I Volunteer? How?

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's volunteer force is the cornerstone of the organization and plays a vital and integral role in our ability to serve the community.  As a volunteer, you will join the ranks of thousands of kind, compassionate, generous, hardworking individuals who have affected tremendous and far-reaching change for, and on behalf, of the Center's clients, patients and the community.

There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities for people with or without specialized skills, throughout the Center's many programs and departments, including: Communications and Marketing, Cultural Arts, Community Outreach & Education, Fundraising and Special Events, Health & Mental Health Services, Health Education & Prevention, Human Resources, Mental Health Services, Legal Services, and Youth Services.

In addition to standard volunteering, the Center is registered with most court-referral, community service programs coordinated through Volunteer Centers and Bureaus L.A. Countywide.  The Center welcomes students 18 and older looking to perform community service to fulfill course requirements as well.

Since the Center started tracking volunteer time and service in 1997, an annual average of more than 3,000 volunteers have contributed more than $11 million in time and service in support of the Center's work.  To become a volunteer at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, contact our Volunteer Resource Department at 323-993-7684 or via email at volunteer@LAGayCenter.org.